Each year we take a week in February to share the love for our partners who help us fulfill our mission. This year’s Week of Gratitude was written and compiled by Communications Intern Nick Heilig.
Sunshine Division
First we would like to express gratitude to one of our great partners, Sunshine Division. Sunshine Division is celebrating 99 years of providing free food and clothing to those in immediate need. In 2021, Sunshine Division provided more than 2.5 million meals to over 113,000 households, many of which include NHA residents. Sunshine Division is also responsible for making 1.4 million pounds of bulk food donations to 50+ other food relief agencies, extending their reach beyond Portland. This reach has been instrumental in helping NHA’s own Residential Services team deliver 3,509 food boxes directly to residents from Portland to Eastern Oregon, to include Holiday food boxes delivered to NHA residents.
Community Access Services
Next, we are expressing gratitude to our partners at Community Access Services, a private non-profit that provides residential, community, and employment opportunities to NHA residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This relationship has developed over 15 wonderful years where CAS has leased 4 group homes from NHA. During this time CAS has reached out to NHA for advice and collaboration on projects. CAS has demonstrated how communication between our organizations can foster a safer and better maintained community living experience.
LMC Construction
For our third partner, we are expressing thanks to LMC Construction, who in 2021 gave a very generous cash donation to our events and programs. LMC employees didn’t stop there, facilitating a company wide support campaign for the Lake Oswego Lake Run Food Drive, bringing in nearly $4,600 worth of non-perishable food AND an over $12,500 in cash donations sourced from subcontractors and partners at their jobsites. LMC Construction has fostered a company culture of service, demonstrated by their willingness to take on extra work to help support us here at NHA.
Heritage Bank
Next we’d like to highlight Heritage Bank. Heritage Bank helped to support NHA through the early pandemic by providing guidance to NHA while navigating the PPP loan process to secure funding for the year. Our team has always had positive and experiences working with members of the Heritage Bank family, and we look forward to further developing our relationship.
Oregon Coast Community Action
Lastly, we would like to express gratitude to Oregon Coast Community Action, a non-profit created in 1965 to serve communities on the Southern Oregon Coast. After being the designee of publicly owned property designated for affordable housing in Coos Bay, ORCCA has agreed to transfer that designation to NHA to have the property fully developed. We are grateful they have extended their trust in NHA to follow-through with an impactful new development to offer families opportunity through housing. We are also thankful for the relationship we are building with ORCCA as they will provide services and supportive programming to the families who will live there.
